Where Georgia football won, lost in this transfer portal cycle

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Georgia football doesn’t construct its roster heavily through the transfer portal.

Identifying and landing top high school talent is a priority and then developing them into players that can win games on Saturdays.

Transfers, though, can upgrade positions if they can translate their talents from their previous school to a perennial top 8 national program that’s won the last two SEC championships.

Zachariah Branch went from USC to setting the Bulldogs’ single-season reception record with 81 for 811 yards and 6 touchdowns this past season.

He was easily the most impactful player of 10 transfers that joined the team last offseason.

Three transfers from defense already hit the portal again after serving in backup or reserve roles last season: safety Jaden Harris went to Kansas, safety Adrian Maddox to Kansas State and outside linebacker Elo Modozie to Purdue.

Here’s a look at where Georgia won and lost in the transfer portal this cycle with its eight additions.

Won: Upgrading the secondary

Georgia landed four defensive backs, including Clemson safety Khalil Barnes and East Carolina safety Ja’Marley Riddle. Barnes started 30 games for the Tigers. Riddle had 134 tackles and 6 interceptions in two seasons. Oklahoma transfer cornerback Gentry Williams, who has battled injuries, could also compete for a starting job.

Lost: A young talent with upside on defense

Dominick Kelly. It’s one thing for defensive backs on the backside of their careers to jump into the portal. The cornerback was just scratching the surface after playing limited snaps in 10 games. The former four-star out of IMG Academy and St. Petersburg transferred to Ohio State. It was reminiscent of AJ Harris transferring after his freshman season to Penn State, where he started for two years.

Won: Adding Isaiah Canion to the wide receiver corps

After two seasons at Georgia Tech, the Bulldogs landed the No. 7-ranked transfer wide receiver, according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder gives Georgia an experienced big body outside after the loss of Colbie Young and Noah Thomas. Canion had 33 catches for 480 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025.

Lost: Carries to go around

Georgia managed to keep both Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens while adding a big, experienced running back in Donte Dowdell. Those should be Georgia’s top three running backs which means Bo Walker, Dwight Phillips and freshman Jae Lamar could be fighting for touches.

Won: Georgia’s pass rush

Amaris Williams, the No. 4-ranked portal edge rusher, gives Georgia more needed pass rush along with Gabe Harris and Quintavius Johnson.  Williams had 2 sacks last season as a redshirt freshman at Auburn. Only three Bulldogs had more than that last season.

Won: Offensive tackle snaps

Georgia did not add any offensive linemen from the transfer portal, even with left tackle Monroe Freeling declaring for the NFL Draft. That means that there are snaps and perhaps a starting tackle job there opposite Earnest Greene for a Juan Gaston, Michael Uini or even freshman Ekene Ogboko.

Lost: That Georgia wasn’t going to add any QBs this cycle

Bryson Beaver came from Oregon via the transfer portal, but the four-star quarterback might as well count as a 2026 quarterback signee since he just graduated from high school. He fills a spot that opened after Jared Curtis flipped to Vanderbilt and is a solid late pick-up.

Won: Georgia’s returning wide receivers

The Bulldogs were in the mix for Vanderbilt slot receiver Tre Richardson who signed with Louisville. Sacovie White-Helton, the rising redshirt sophomore who had a 20-yard catch in the Sugar Bowl, and redshirt freshman Tyler Williams could step up.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Where Georgia football won and lost in the transfer portal

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